July 18, 1999:
So far so good. Now that I am rested from the flight, I can enjoy Europe!
I love it here, it is so good to be here! I performed a little bit
yesterday as I had 40 minutes to kill before the train came... It went
really well, these young guys were watching and smiling. This one Italian
one complimented me in Italian and another guy from Cameroon put me on his
cell-phone singing to a friend. :)
Life is good.
Back to the top
July 27, 1999:
Cambridge is a lovely town.... There are lots of buskers to watch
here... For example, today I spent quite a while watching a young guy
just stading in a little alcove playing the guitar and singing popular
tunes... it reminded me a lot of myself. Although most people just
hurriedly walk by (rather briskly), every now and then someone would
stop to throw him some change.
On the other hand, I hear that back home on 3rd St. Promenade in Santa
Monica, they will be cutting back on street performers because the
businesses are complaining.
Back to the top
July 28, 1999:
Today has been a wonderful day!!! I busked in Cambridge!! I was at a
little alley off of Sidney Street... it was fabulous... no cars, and
some pretty good acoustics. I was surprisingly unnervous. I enjoyed
it lots. I played lots of my own tunes and then I sang some covers
along with Odette, whose house I am staying at. We harmonized and
people were rather responsive, though most folks just walked by...
But that is how it goes. I am hungry for more busking tomorrow!
yay!
Back to the top
July 29, 1999:
Life is still going very well... I busked again today, this time
entirely on my owwn. I did only original tunes and it went over
really well... yay!!
Back to the top
July 30, 1999:
I think that I have decided what I would say if someone asked me what
the best part of busking is... it is the children! They are so sweet
and watch so intently as the parents drag them along! :) Today these
five blond little girls (aged 4 1/4, 5 but almost 6, 6 but almost 7,
7, and 8) formed an audience for me. They were sooo sweet. I sang
"Puff the Magic Dragon" for
them. I also really like it when somebody walks by and we make eye
contact and then they start to smile... it is so groovy. I feel like
I am making an impact somehow. That is fabulous. Some people even
said "thank you" to me. I love music so much!!
Back to the top
August 5, 1999:
So... I have now had the experience of being "moved on" after just 2
1/2 songs! It was terrible, this woman came straight out of her shop
to me to ask me to "move on" as I could be heard quite clearly in her
store. I really don't understand why stores dislike buskers so
much... I have some theories. Maybe it is because there are some
buskers who are just obviously homeless and thus scare away potential
customers... But I am not one of those types. But then they probably
just unilaterally ask buskers to leave if they care... But I think
that this does not make sense, because some people slow down and even
stop to hear me sing... and in doing so they may notice the shop that
they would have otherwise just passed by. Who knows? Got any theories?
Send them to me and maybe I will post them here... I still intend to
interview the store people one day when I am in a really good mood and
can do it without being offended and without offending... :)
On another note, I have started the interviewing
process... Interviewed a young violinist, a music student. It went
quite well (though it was not particularly exciting...). Cheers for
now.
A response to the above entry, from my father:
The woman was probably in an irritable mood to begin with.
It might have been that she had physical experiences with other
buskers in the past. All in all it meant a space issue for her.
I know I react when the neighbors play music that is not of my
choosing at any given moment. I remember when the people who moved
into Steve house across the street were playing the Doors. Even
though they were playing some of my favorite music I was not in the
mood for it at the time and I was frustrated by the space invasion.
Good point... and I think that one of the things about street
performance is that it is not something you sign up for but something
that happens to be there (or not) regardless of your mood (unless you
"move on" the busker.
Back to the top
August 6, 1999:
Today my voice was not in the best shape as I was singing... and I
was not in the best of moods. I was on St. John's St. in Cambridge
and things just weren't clicking. As I was packing up (a bit earlier
than I might have normally) a man passed by me and said I ought to come
down to the garden nearby to play for the craft fair... I followed him
and he pointed out this great spot. I really enjoyed it! People were
really positive... So after being kicked out in one spot, I got
invited to another, where I felt the vendors were really responsive.
Yay! And one Danish girl asked me who wrote the tune "Something
Meaningful"... When I told her I had written it, she told me that
she found it beautiful and thought that it had maybe been written by
Joni Mitchell. Wow! It made me feel good... :)
Later as I was writing in my journal, watching people punt on the Cam
river, this medical student from Brazil came over to me and started
to chat with me... he had seen me perform earlier in the day. One of
the really cool things about performing in the streets is that I feel
myself becoming on the spot and approachable to people. I am putting
myself out in the open and people do actually come to talk to me.
Back to the top
August 7, 1999:
Today I saw a wicked street performance by an amplified
jazz/blues/zydeco band. They had an incredible washboard bit and a
really cool harmonica player. I talked to them and they were really
friendly. I sang "Autumn Leaves" with them. I definitely hope/plan
to see them again! Now I am off to Edinburgh for a fabulous festival!
Back to the top
August 9, 1999:
Edinburgh is very cold and windy... It is comparable to our coldest
weather in Los Angeles. So I bought a cheap woolen scarf and a nice
woolen hat... Guess that is ok cause I am in Scotland, and all... I
like Edinburgh. There is sooo much art stuff going on... theater and
music... it is amazing!
Back to the top
August 11, 1999:
Edinburgh is actually a bit overwhelming... I have been doing three
interviews a day and have found that to be very draining. Just
walking down High Street where many of the buskers are you get simply
bombarded with fliers for various Fringe Shows... the actors so
desperately trying to get an audience. Meanwhile all the tourists are
figuring out where to spend their money... It really is quite
exhausting.
On the bright side, the people I have been interviewing have been
teaching me a great deal. I have found that the world of buskers is
very diverse... some happy and excited, others tired and jaded. It is
fascinating and I feel like I am learning a great deal about people in
general.
Oh, yes, and I should not forget to mention that it is cold and things
here seem to be slow to start every day...
Back to the top
August 14, 1999:
I am spending the day in Glasgow, where I have seen a couple off buskers.
Basically the frenzy of Edinburgh just got too much and I decided to
back off a little bit, having learned a great deal about some of the
less pleasant aspects of the street scene. So I am discovering
another city for a day, learning about the scene here... Glasgow, the
"friendly" city. It is beautiful. It is not insane here. Not a
single person has tried to give me a flier... I am no longer bombarded
with one sales pitch after another.
I don't mean to be so negative about the Edinburgh festival, but I
must admit that it was a bit disappointing... the vibe was not very
friendly... it was a vibe of desperation and money money money...
The street performers were being regulated for the first
time ever and there were some protests about that. They seemed to be
making good money though. The shows I saw were good. But I am happy to
be elsewhere today!
Back to the top
August 19, 1999:
Hm.... I sure am learning lots... I am finding out how much better
life is and how much more I can accomplish when I am in a relaxed
state of mind. Just for a status report... so far on this trip I have
written about 5 tunes, some good some not so good... :) But that is
just how it goes. Life is interesting, uplifting, with never-ending
adventures... and I am moving forward!
Back to the top
August 26, 1999:
Italy is magnificent... So full of life. The buzz of mopeds whizzing by.
More nuns than I expected in this romantic country... :) It is HOT. The
opposite of Edinburgh. In Ferrara, the International Busker Festival is the
only thing that seems to be going on in the town... during the day the whole
place is deserted, with wide and narrow cobblestoned streets and tons of
buildings that are way older than I can imagine (it is a very medieval
town). At night the tourist crowds come out, but they are mostly Italians.
The program for the festival is only printed in Italian as well. Most of
the performers are Italian. It hardly seems international to me. But the
talent is amazing... All over the place the streets come to life with all
kinds of amazing music! It is really neat. People don't give as much money
to the hats as in Edinburgh though... not nearly!
I have written three songs since I have arrived in Italy. One is about
being lonely and not happy about it and another is about how wonderful it is
to be on my own. I think that this really does say something about my
little mood swings. It does get tiring at times to be on my own, especially
in such an unfamiliar (though fantastic) culture where I don't speak the
language.
I have had the chance to explore Florence as well and I truly love the
place. Well... I got to run. Ciao!
Back to the top
September 2, 1999:
Wow, how did September come around so quickly? Italy was intense, and
now I am back in Cambridge, which seems like home. I am definitely
having to readjust to British ways, such as the different traffic
rules. I have rented a touristy bike for two months, which makes
getting around much easier. I have also gotten a pretty cheap camera
(as my camera is in repairs and the one I borrowed from a friend broke
on me too!).
Today I saw a busker doing neat tricks with a tennis racket.
Unfortunately, due to bad timing I did not manage to catch him for an
interview. Cambridge is full of different talents.
Back to the top
September 7, 1999:
First I would just like to say thank you to all you folks back in the States
who have sent me e-mails saying hello. It is truly wonderful to hear
from people! :)
Since the last time I wrote, I have not only had a couple of
interviews and busked at the Cambridge Craft Fair, but I have also
moved into a cozy room all of my own. It is lovely. Currently I am
making plans for sewing a bag so I can easily strap my guitar onto my
back and take it on my bicycle. Life is good. yeah... I am also
working on my guitar playing and polishing up some of the tunes I
wrote in Italy and Edinburgh. Life is good.
Back to the top
September 9, 1999:
So, yesterday, on my way back from a lovely daytrip to Norwich, I
managed to do a very STUPID thing: I left my guitar on the train!! I
realized this a few minutes into my walk home and rushed back to the
station. I had the feeling that the guitar was not lost to me and was
not as panicked as I have gotten at other times about other similarly
foolish acts... Luckily I did get my guitar back, after it had its
own adventure all the way to Stanstead Airport and back. :) What a
relief to know that it is safely in my hands again!
Also, because I mentioned the bag in the previous entry... upon going
to secondhand shops in the Grafton Center to look for sturdy,
interesting, and cheap fabric, in the third shop, rather than finding
fabric, I found the perfect bag, with straps and all. In pretty
decent shape, my guitar fits perfectly so I can EASILY go anywhere,
and hopefully not ever leave it on any train again (don't worry I have
a plan for this...).
Anyhow, Norwich was truly lovely. I busked there for a bit, after
having gone to make sure at the City Council building that one does
not need a permit. However, I did not get much of an audience ever
because I was foolishly not following the advice of buskers I have
interviewed... : choose a spot where people are not rushing by... but
are instead more likely to take the time to enjoy listening to live
music. Well, instead of this, I chose a spot where almost everybody
rushed by to get to this or that shop... a little experiment. Live
and learn! :)
Back to the top
September 15, 1999:
I am currently enjoying a visit from my father in Cambridge. We spent
a day in London together where we got the chance to see Covent
Garden. Unfortunately time passes by very quickly and he shall be off
soon again, at which point I will more intensly study the scene of
Covent Garden, the busking center of London.
Until then, I am hoping that the sky clears up a bit so that my Dad
and I
can enjoy a nice punt (sort of like a gondola in Venice) on the Cam
river.
Cheers!
Back to the top
September 17, 1999:
Yesterday I had to see my dad off at the airport. I was very emotional...
The night before as I was singing "I've Been Freed By The Music" (see lyrics, number 33) in our
sitting room it hit me just how much I would miss
Dad. When I left home it was with this feeling of total adventure and
excitement. But now I have lost some of that feeling of glamour and the
trip is not so novel anymore. Seeing Dad out here reminded me of just how
wonderful I have it back home with my family. In many ways I think that I
could live anywhere... well, I know I can live in Vienna and in Cambridge
and be quite happy (except maybe during winter)... but I just miss everyone
so much sometimes!
On another note, I am in London right now and am enjoying the city. I am
about to meet up with another Watson fellow and am looking forward to that.
:) Yesterday, on the way to the airport there was a fiddler busking on the
tube. I asked him about the legality and he told me about how he goes to
court roughly once a year over busking but he has the arguments all worked
out (he asks everyone before playing if they mind his playing and then he
makes it clear he is not asking for money but is happy to accept it if
people want to give it). Anyhow, you are not allowed to disturb other
passengers and you are not allowed to ask for alms... but the policy
derived from those bylaws is that you are not allowed to busk. Weird, this
world.
One more thing, my Dad had the fabulous idea that I can write a musical, and
so I am toying very seriously with the idea. Cheers to you all!!
Back to the top
September 18, 1999:
Well, I learned a lot today... did three interviews and lots of observation
at Covent Garden. Aside from learning about the politics of the bureaucracy
of the whole thing (I hope to make contacts and interview the officials...),
I also had an insight: Street performers are the types of people who are
willing to try new things and willing to take risks. They are people with
talents or maybe just willing to learn, who go out there and make the money,
going against many social norms so that they can be out there performing and
making a living rather than sitting around complaining about how they are
not getting anywhere. I really respect that. I respect street performers
for their gutsiness...
One street performer I talked to today has a website: www.terrystclair.com. His
songs were pretty cool.
Now it is rainy and so no more street performance at this time. Very
educational experience.
I am doing well.
Back to the top
September 24, 1999:
Well... Rain is not good for busking and unfortunately there has been
quite a lot of it here in Cambridge recently. So that gives me the
chance to get some other things done and that is good. I am in the
process of getting my new tunes copywritten and then I will be able to
get them on the web (and I hope to link them into this diary
chronologically...). I have met another Watson Fellow, which is
always fun and fascinating. I am currently planning a short trip over
to Ireland... (from the 2nd to the 9th, I got a really good deal on a
flight to Dublin). Life is generally good, even if a bit slow-paced
for what I am used to. :)
Oh, yes, and one more thing... my camera saga... I think I shall tell
the story... So during the very first week I dropped my beautiful and
perfect new camera. I was able to take two more photos with it, but
then when I tried to shut it, it would not close again! I reluctantly
let this guy (who is a filmmaker and explained that he works with
camera equipment just about everyday and so I should trust him...)
take a look at it, and he broke it further. He then told me that I
should just report it stolen and get the money back from my credit
card to buy another one... Well, I had a little wrestling match with
my conscience and decided to see how much the repairs would cost.
Cambridge, being a fairly small place, does not have any people who
can fix it here, so it had to get sent off somewhere, but I was told
that the estimate would take 7-10 days, for a 5-pound deposit. Ok, I
went for it... handed over the sad little thing and expected to get my
estimate just before leaving for Edinburgh... (so I could buy another
camera before leaving or figure out something more temporary,
depending on the price levels involved {so I was an economics major, I
can't help it}...) but a day before I was to leave, I went to check on
the estimate and it turned out that the store (Camkins) had
accidentally sent it to the wrong place and it would take another 7-10
days! So... I decided to go ahead and have them repair it if the
cost was below 100 pounds, this message was supposedly relayed and I
thought that I would hopefully return to a fixed camera in a few weeks
(they kept saying that they couldn't imagine that it would cost more
than 70 or 80 pounds). Well, when I returned there was no camera or
message about it and so went in to the shope to find out what was
happening. The person figured they had just gone ahead and repaired
it. A week later I went in again and it turned out they were waiting
on parts. Later I went in again and it turned out that they had
actually gotten an estimate in: 120 pounds!! (this 6 weeks rather than
7-10 days after I had brought it in) The next day I got a letter from
them saying that it would be 125 pounds (I suppose this version
included their commission... or maybe just the 5 pounds that I would
supposedly get back on the deposit if I went ahead with the
repair...)! That is about $200! There was no way I would go for
that. I went in last week, on Wednesday, with my father to turn down
the repair and ask for my camera back (or maybe more like demand).
And they said that it would come in on Tuesday... Well two days ago
(the day after it should have arrived), I went in to pick up the
camera and it had mysteriously not arrived! I told them that I want
to have it by Satureday because I am heading in to London and I would
like to give the camera to my father when I meet him at the
airport...I told them to have it sent directly to my house.... they
stand there so helpless looking, completely ineffective! They agreed
to call me and to leave a message if they were able to get the company
to ship it to me directly. I did not hear from them. I went in again
yesterday to make sure that they were sending it to the right
place... and they slowly got on the phone and called around until they
confirmed that it had been posted. Hopefully I will have it before I
leave for London, but I am not yet convinced.
There are two things I take away from this experience: 1) maybe I am
just not meant to have that camera... how can so many things go so
wrong? 2) don't ever go to Camkins in Cambridge, ever, for
anything... They are one of the worst shops I have ever been to in my
life!
Back to the top
September 28, 1999:
London is alive with music. I just got off the tube where I heard
this cool ensemble of harmonica, tamborine, and trumpet. Tonight I am
planning to get cheap tickets for "Rent"... you know, a little bit of
research for my up and coming musical! I am also going to meet
another Watson Fellow... I am very curious because when we were
figuring out how to recognize each other he said he would make a fool
of himself somehow and that is how I would recognize him... (he is
studying theater and clown work stuff, so I am very interested to see
what he does!). Tomorrow is my birthday and I get to see my dad for
his 2 1/2 hour stop-over (aka layover in the states) at the airport.
:)
Back to the top
September 29, 1999:
It's my birthday... I am a whole whopping 22 years old now... I know,
that is still very young... what can I do? :) At the beginning of
this trip I was concerned that my birthday might be a lonely one, a
low point of the year... But today I feel like i have a lot of
friends who are very kind to me (even though some of them are far
away). Yeah, I am in a good state of mind right now. I left London
with really good feelings, had a wonderful
chat with my dad at the airport this morning... I saw RENT last
night. It was fun, though not quite as great as everyone told me it
would be. Maybe that is because of the London cast or I dunno...?
Maybe I am just too critical. London was definitely good.
I am working through all of my muscial ideas in my head... and it is
slowly evolving. Tonight, for my birthday: a little dinner outing
and some samba and salsa dancing. Yay!
Back to the top
September 30, 1999:
Wonderful day yesterday! I could hardly sleep afterward.
Unfortunately I missed the Samba lesson, but I got to have an
adventurous time instead. Odette's bicycle: the pedal (crank thing?)
fell off and we tried to temporarily fix it (well, Dennis, the person
whose house I am lodging at did) and then it fell off again and Dennis
was pushing Odette like you push a person on a swing... so we were an
hour later to dancing than expected. But truly a wonderful day!
Vicki (a housemate) baked me a cake! How cool is that? Anyways, I
am incredibly thankful for all the support of friends here in
Cambridge and all the friends scattered about the world who have been
so wonderful to me.
Meanwhile... on the project front, I am still working with all sorts
of ideas for the musical... It is gonna happen. I also am working on
the whole copywriting thing and hope to get lyrics up here soon (I
promise!).
Back to the top
October 1, 1999:
I am SICK! This sucks! I woke up this morning feeling terrible!
Congestion, swollen glands... I am trying to take care of myself so I
am ok for my trip to Ireland... I have had: 4 cups of tea, an orange,
ViCKS Vapo Rub steam, some homeopathic inhaling stuff, echinacia and
goldenseal, and Sudafed... the rest of the plan is to be minimally
active, which is most unfortunate as I was looking forward to busking
today among other things. Well, guess that is life. I just hope I
can nip this sickness thing in the bud as soon as possible.
Oh, yes, the camera saga has come to an end... The manager of
Campkins drove over to my house to personally hand deliver the
camera. He refunded the money I had paid and apologized again... I
felt a little bad cause he seemed like a dog with a tail between his
legs, ready to cry or something... But I sure was happy to have the
camera back! (too bad it is still totally broken!).
On the road to recovery, I am in a good mood in spite of it all.
Back to the top
October 3, 1999:
It is COLD in Dublin! I spent last night in the airport, because I
could not find a place to stay. Close to an hour before I had to
leave to catch the train to the airport, I was all packed and decided
to go ahead and book a hostel... This should have been no big deal
cause October is definitely off-season and there are LOADS of hostels
(and B&B's) in Dublin. Anyways, the first place I called was all
booked... I was surprised, but statistically speaking thought it was
no big deal. The next place I called was also booked. Very quickly I
realized (also by asking) that all of Dublin was booked. Basically I
could not get any B&B or Hotel room that did not have completely
exorbitant prices... (This because of the Rugby World Cup that I knew
nothing about.) I sorta panicked and almost decided not to go to
Ireland, but my housemates, Vicki and Caroline, recommended I go in
spite of this set back. I made it to the train station with just
barely enough time to buy my ticket and catch the train. When I got
to Dublin I called about 10 random B&B's... It was already later than
10:30 pm, so I eventually just gave up and decided to leave my big
backpack and my guitar at "Left Luggage" for the night, using my
sleeping bag as I lay over three comfortable chairs. I got some
sleep, though not very deep... Probably not the best thing to be
doing when I am still recovering from my little illness... (still
recovering, but rather quickly, I think).
BUT, today I feel fine... Dublin is beautiful... Hopefully I am off
to Cork soon. I feel like I have learned further patience and
confidence... always being reminded that panic is neither condusive
nor necessary to achieving my goals and that I ought not fear just
winging it...
Even in this weather there are street musicians a plenty... A duet of
accordions and unbelievably close by another competing accordion
player (this on Grafton Street). But generally speaking, I like the
Irish vibe... even the airport was somehow a relatively nice airport.
Back to the top
October 4, 1999:
I love Ireland...! It is beautiful and GREEN. I am just outside of
Cork, staying with some wonderful Subud folks. I don't usually write
about Subud stuff here, because I don't want to fuss about it, but I
must say that when I came here last night, I had an amazing latihan
(that is just the name of my spiritual exercise) in which I had such
an immense feeling of everything being totally ok... of just letting
things happen and work out... not sweating the small stuff (as my dad
always says)... I felt completely grateful for everything that I have
in my life. It was awesome! Then I slept really well and long in a
very comfortable bed. Today was absolutely gorgeous. :) Must run now....
Back to the top
October 5, 1999:
I am on the Dingle peninsula at a really secluded "performing arts"
hostel... It is beautiful, incredible, right by the coast, overlooking
the beach! Wow!!! Life is good and I am falling in love with
Ireland! I hope to get some more practising in today and to enjoy a
sunset at the beach. Tomorrow I will get up for an early walk
(sunrise?) and then head on up to Galway for more busking
citiness... Oh, yes, there are a lot of buskers in Ireland. In Cork
I saw a couple fellas busking... One was playing "Leaving on a
Jetplane" on the harmonica... it reminded me of camp. Even in the
village where I was staying near Cork there was a busker.
Back to the top
October 7, 1999:
I love Ireland... It is sooo cool! I am in Galway, which usually has
a really good busking scene, but unfortunately the weather has been
just a tiny bit too wet for it... But that is definitely one of the
things about busking, it is seasonal and very much dependant on
weather... people often complain about this to me.
In spite of all that, though, yesterday evening there was this really
fabulous (female!) bagpiper. The best I have heard yet, or at least
the most interesting cause she did not sound like every other
bagpiper... she had much more interesting (and less grating) melodies.
*******
I had a wonderful, absolutely wonderful day since I wrote the above
entry! I was walking down Quay Street and I passed by a
guitarist/singer... I kinda wanted to talk to him but was feeling
intimidated (and have been ever since I got turned down twice in a
row). I did not want to interrupt or disturb him... so I kept
going.
Next I heard a pennywhistle player, but he was really good... So I
turned to go down the alley where he was playing, in order to pass by
him and listen. As I was passing by him, he asked me what time it
was... "A quarter to one" Then he asked where I am from (probably
cause of the accent or something) "Los Angeles" "Oh, what are you
doing out here?" "Funny you should ask..." and so I ended up
interviewing him (at a nearby pub. How amazing! He somehow picked me
out to be interviewed rather than me having to approach him for an
interview. I can't believe how life works out.
After having had a wonderful discussion about busking with this guy, I
decided to go out and busk myself... and I had such fun! At first
this dog came along and set itself down right by me... it looked like
it belonged to me, but, of course, he didn't.... I felt very strange
about this because you see a lot of homeless types playing
pennywhistles with their dogs at their sides... and I did not want to
be thought of like this... Eventually the dog left after finding his
owner.
Then, a while later, this Israeli girl came over and asked if she
could play along on the drum. I said ok, after a little deliberation
and it was great fun. She and a friend of hers (from New York, they
met travelling) and I went for coffee afterwards and had fabulous
conversations... It rained a little bit as I was singing and playing
the guitar, but it was not that bad (no big raindrops here...). An
all around good day!
Back to the top
October 8, 1999:
To make a fabulous day even better, yesterday evening I went with
Hanar and Adam (the two people I met busking) to a pub where there was
live jazz. There was a trio (trumpet, bass, and drums) in a small
corner. They were fabulous. I asked if I could jam with them,
singing... They were cool with it, so I ended up singing "Stormy
Weather," "Summertime," and later "Girl From Ipanema." It was SOOO
much fun! I miss jazz! I had such a great time and it seemed to go
over well too (the pub got a little bit more quiet so I was actually
audible unmiked and at some points people were singing along). It was
great fun!
Today I am enjoying Dublin, in spite of the Rugby World Cuppers. I
already checked into my hostel, so I definitely have a bed tonight. :)
Also, I had a great time busking today on Grafton Street. I am
definitely not complaining.
Back to the top
October 12, 1999:
I got a new camera today! Thank you Dennis and Denesa... I have
already rushed out to get a camera case for it. :) It is really
well-padded...
I am finally getting the copyright stuff out... and that means that
the lyrics, all 17 songs', will be coming your way via this website
shortly... (Within the next couple days). Also, I have recording
plans in the works. Life is good and I am enjoying the rest of my
stay in England, getting ready for (and looking forward to) whisking
off to Australia... I am learning on many different levels,
personally and musically.
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October 15, 1999:
After two days of busking in Cambridge (yesterday with a couple of
friends, my joining them in for impromptu harmonizing and a couple of
my pieces), today I am heading off to Lewes/Brighton for the
weekend... there I hope to catch some high quality busking and to
make plans for studio recording (yay!). Life is good... :)
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October 18, 1999:
Wow...
So on Saturday I watched quite a few buskers in Brighton and ended up
talking with a juggler who was actually not a busker (he offered me
some of his "spliffy" or something like that... apparently a joint).
Apparently there are quite a few busking jugglers in Brighton who can
do 9 balls at a time! Incroyable! Well, then I sat and watched these
two guys who were juggling and doing other tricks. I enjoyed watching
them in spite of the fact that in passing their clubs they must have
dropped them at least 50 times while I was watching. Anyways, one of
them started doing the whole Diablo thing when I decided to take a
photo. And when I took the photo he got really upset and I asked him
if it bother him, apologizing... and he said of course it
did... something about how the person behind the camera usually makes
loads of money and then gives him none... and I explained that I am
also a busker as I was packing away my things... I left, leaving him
with a pound which I was going to give him anyway, but he really
chased away a significant part of his audience as there were at most 3
other people watching (and they inattentively).
I really don't understand... I mean, I can understand, but I think
that street performers put themselves out in public and should expect
and even enjoy having their photos taken. I think he was having a bad
day and taking it out on me. I think that street performers should be
more responsible than to snap at their audiences. Maybe I should ask
for permission first, but usually the people I ask end up being
awkward about it and imply that they would have rather I had taken it
before we started talking, though they don't mind at all if I take
it. Something I need to figure out more about...
SUNDAY: I recorded!!! I am supercritical of my own work and I
learned a great deal... but now I feel really positive about the whole
experience. Thought it is not perfect, I got so incredibly much out
of it. I feel really inspired to do more, to learn more... I feel
hungry for it. I LOVE MUSIC. I LOVE SINGING. I feel myself come to
life when I do music... it is so magical, and I am so thankful to be
having the chance to focus on music this year. Yes! I hope to
eventually get some recording samples on the web... but don't be
impatient about it. :)
Yes, things are going well... I am growing amazingly and feel good
about life... I contemplate where I will end up after this year, at a
financial firm? Following music? I don't know. It is very
curious... :) I think I am just blabbering on now... so I shall sign
off. :)
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October 20, 1999:
Photos!!! Photos!!! In case you have not seen them scrolling down the
page above, I have put in photos! Do take a look... :) Also, I have
gone ahead and added lyrics for the 17 copywritten tunes... all written
since I began my travels as a Watson Fellow. Hope you find them
interesting.
Otherwise, I am doing well... it is cold, but I am surviving, looking
forward to seeing the sun again in Australia in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.
Time is scary. I have been practising guitar lots to prepare for up
and coming recording sessions. :)
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October 21, 1999:
If given the choice, would I even want to "make it" in music? Does
that mean being famous? Would that be a good thing? I ponder many
such questions, especially when the weather is as poor out as it is
today... and then I remember why I am going to Australia soon. I have
been rather pensive lately. Thinking so much, too much. Oh, well.
Meanwhile I feel like I am trying to just cram everything else in
before time runs out here. hm. :)
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October 27, 1999:
Wow.... I had an absolutely incredible recording session in Norwich
Monday and Tuesday.... Wow! I recorded in the kitchen of Andrew
Clague (wonderful), of DJC records
and we got TEN tracks done, mixed and all... This is by far the best
recording I have ever done... and the best I have ever felt about a
recording of me. I am still not sure what exactly I want to do with
this tape... I still have a lot to learn, but I definitely feel like
I am going somewhere (don't ask me where...). Life is good. I am
leaving England in less than a week... then: Australia!! :)
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October 30, 1999:
Well... What I have been up to... Somewhat of an emotional
rollercoaster, I suppose... But not in a bad way. Last night I had a
magical evening in Norwich. It suddenly hit me that I am leaving soon
and that I am going to miss all the dear friends I have made here.
How terrible that just as I really feel most at home I have to up and
leave. It's just not fair, somehow. I have to start all over again.
And I know that Australia is going to be a really good experience, BUT
it's not as easy as I keep telling myself it is... to just let go.
Hmmm.... As plans to record today in Norwich have folded, I look
forward to doing some recording tomorrow instead. Other than that I
just have to get myself organized and purge myself of some of the
meaningless material objects that have managed to attach themselves to
me over the last few months.
I am growing up. I am learning copious amounts.... and I am letting
go. It is powerful. :)
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November 2, 1999:
Well, my bags are mostly packed and today I am off to Australia. I am
looking forward to it. I am calm. This is going to be a very very
very long day. :)
What is home anyway?
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